Boonen A
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University Hospital Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2002 Nov-Dec;20(6 Suppl 28):S23-6.
Since ankylosing spondylitis usually starts at an early age, the socioeconomic impact of the disease on the patient and on society can be important. Several studies have reported substantial work disability, but there is considerable variation among countries. While withdrawal from work is associated with an older age at diagnosis and manual jobs or a lower educational level, sick leave in those with a paying job is associated with disease activity and physical functioning. The yearly mean total (direct and productivity) costs of AS are US$6,720 per patient in the USA and Euro 9,462 per patient in Europe when the human capital approach is used to calculate the productivity costs. A cost-effectiveness study on spa-therapy in AS shows that the clinical benefits of (expensive) treatments can be reached within acceptable costs.
由于强直性脊柱炎通常在早年发病，该疾病对患者和社会的社会经济影响可能很大。多项研究报告了严重的工作残疾情况，但各国之间存在相当大的差异。虽然工作退出与诊断时年龄较大、从事体力工作或教育水平较低有关，但有薪工作者的病假与疾病活动和身体功能有关。当采用人力资本方法计算生产力成本时，美国强直性脊柱炎患者每年的平均总（直接和生产力）成本为每人6720美元，欧洲为每人9462欧元。一项关于强直性脊柱炎水疗治疗的成本效益研究表明，（昂贵的）治疗的临床益处可以在可接受的成本范围内实现。
